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Thursday, January 30, 2014

"Fried" Mac & Cheese Bites

Yes, these are baked, not fried! And you won't miss the grease, I promise :) They are a perfect fun snack for the kids or a perfect appetizer for a Sunday football game. Best part is they can be made in advance and frozen to bake later....or make an extra batch for those unexpected cravings!

credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/beggyberry/6076673589/

For the Mac & Cheese (use your favorite box recipe or homemade version, this one is my favorite):

3 tbl butter

1/4 cup flour

1 cup milk

4 oz Velveeta, cubed

2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked per package instructions

1/4 cup cheddar

Melt butter in a large sauce pan and sprinkle in flour. Whisk until flour is combined and thick. Slowly pour in milk and whisk bringing to a gentle boil. Add in the Velveeta and cheddar cheese and stir until cheese has melted. Pour in the cooked macaroni and stir to coat with the cheese mixture. Pour into a 13 x 9 pan and allow mac & cheese to set up and cool, overnight is ideal but at least 4 hours to be sure it has set up.

Make the Mac & Cheese Balls
You'll Need

2 eggs

1/2 cup flour

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using 3 separate bowls, place the eggs in 1, the flour in another and lastly the panko bread crumbs with the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in the last. Remove the mac & cheese from the fridge and begin to form into balls about 2 tablespoons large. Roll balls into the eggs, then flour, finally dredge them in the panko mixture. Place onto baking sheet and repeat process for remaining mac & cheese. Spray the coated balls with cooking spray and bake for 25 minutes. I like to serve these with Franks hot sauce or they would even be good with salsa!